Blended
Scotland
Johnnie Walker Black Label has a long history. It dates back to the late 19th century when John Walker & Sons of Kilmarnock had three blends in ascending order of age and price: Old Highland, Special Old Highland, and Extra Special Old Highland. These had white, red, and black labels respectively, and were known by their colour. Then in 1906, the three blends were relaunched as White Label, a five year old, Red Label, a nine year old, and Black Label, a 12 year old.
While Red Label would lose its age statement and White Label disappear altogether, Black Label is still a 12 year old blend – though it did go through a phase without an age statement. Its prestige status was trumped with the launch of the super swanky Blue Label in the late 1980s, but Black Label has never lost its cache. Across the world today, a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label is a recognised currency and symbol of excellence.
The classic 12 Year Old Black Label is a blend majoring on Diageo’s Four Corners of Scotland distilleries Clynelish in the Highlands, Cardhu on Speyside, malt from Glenknichie and grain from Cameronbridge with a little smoke from Caol Ila.
Winter spice and treacle, hints of white pepper and a little citrus.
Rich and full with notes of wood smoke and dry spice, hints of barley and cereal with creamy toffee and a distinct herbal note.
Quite fruity and long with a note of sultanas and mixed peels.
It's the highlight of my day and I have a full life. Just 11 hours to go! Delicious!
Though not a peat freak, I find Black Label to be an eminently drinkable blend. Quite creamy, smooth and fruity, but with just the right smoky edge. Quite a classy nose, and very easy to drink, even by a fairly new convert to whisky, still finding his way, like me.
This is just so well balanced and consistant that I can't help always keeping it in stock. I would love Diageo to offer a 46% version - it would be the bees knees. I strongly advise very little water and deffinitely no ice. Other higher priced Johnnie Walkers might have more finnesse but this one provides the best value.
This is smooth, more refined than say Jamesons, It has a sharp citrus beginning with a mellow peaty finish. I really enjoy this, until I can afford Blue that is lol.
I've been bouncing around trying many different Whisky's predominantly of the Scotch variety. Recently I decided I'd give this one a try, and while I didn't really know what to expect going in I'd have to say I'm neither disappointed nor excited by it. I found that it finished on the tongue a little too quick for my liking, but in that regard I like that it makes it easier to sink. While I found it has mild characteristics of almost every Scotch I've tried, I can't say anything jumped out at me to give this much character of its own. Thus I say it's a good starter for people curious about Scotch. I can't say I'll be going after this one again, but that's simply because I have other Whiskies that are more to my taste in this price point. I am glad that I got a chance to try this, and may keep a bottle in my cabinet to give other curious parties a taste of a nice entry level Scotch.
